While in Beijing I made a pilgrimage to the home of 齊白石 Qi Baishi (1864-1958), one of the last of the old-style scholar artists. Although best known in the Western world for his paintings, he considered himself a seal carver first and painter second.
This, his last home, was given to him by Prime Minister Zhou Enlai in 1957 and Qi lived here until his death in 1958. In a small Beijing side street, it has been restored and is now open to the public.
This statue of Qi stands in the middle of the courtyard.
His desk has been arranged to look like it was when he lived here.
On his desk, among other things, are his glasses and this small container for seal ink.
